There are so many materials in which socks are made of nowadays, so which material is better than which? How can we tell and what to choose?

1. Cotton

Socks made out of 100% cotton tend to be more comfortable as compared to other types of socks. However said, cotton socks tend to absorb and retain moisture easily. After a long day of use, cotton socks will tend to be wet and feel uncomfortable. The damp socks will soften the skin after hours of soaking, making it more susceptible for blisters and abrasions. It is then recommended that cotton socks be used for activities with shorter timespans.

2. Wool

Wool provides cushioning to the feet. It is more durable as it is thicker, allowing it to last longer. Being thicker, it may be a little too warm in our tropical climate. Due to its property of providing more cushioning, wool socks are recommended for activities with a fair amount of impact.

3. Acrylic

Acrylic sport socks are one of the most used socks in the market. It is due to its ability to wick moisture away from the feet, keeping it dry. The ability to wick moisture away helps to provide more comfort as it remains dry on your feet all day long.

4. Synthetic materials

Some socks are made from putting together two or more different types of materials. These type of socks tend to be better inquality as it provides the best of both worlds. Good characteristics from the materials are harnessed and put together.

The best way to choose your socks would be consider the nature of the activity you are going to do. This will help decide which sock will serve you better, providing you with more comfort throughout use.

2) Activity

When looking at the activity, there are some aspects to consider, they are time span, weather and also type of footwear.

Time span is an important factor as wearing socks that are poor in wicking moisture away will cause the feet to be soaked throughout the period of use. Socks with relatively poorer moisture wicking properties can work relatively well if worn for shorter period of time, they provide maximum comfort.

In Singapore, weather is either raining or sunny. However weather in this case includes relatively colder climates such as snow and also the hotter climates in the desert. For hotter climates, socks that are able to wick moisture away from the feet are important as it helps release some of the heat through the perspiration. Colder climates would naturally require thicker socks as they would keep the feet warm and prevent frost bite from setting in. All of these are important to note as in these extreme climates, one mistake would cause discomfort and in worst case harm to the individual’s feet. It is always important to be prepared.

Lastly, the type of footwear also one of the factors that determine the type of socks. Footwear with a high cut tend to require socks that are longer in length, this is so as to prevent blisters and also chafing at the heel area. Having socks longer in length would minimise the friction on these areas and thus prevent blisters.

3) Pre existing conditions

There are some pre-existing conditions that would require special attention. One of such a condition would be diabetes, this is due to one of the complications called peripheral vascular disease whereby there is reduced blood flow to the peripheral areas of the body such as the fingers and also feet. This reduced blood flow would cause delayed healing that would have dire consequences. Gangrene might occur if it is not taken care of. For individuals with diabetes, the socks they wear would have to aid in blood circulation, compression socks are one good example. Socks that are good in cushioning such as wool socks also help to minimise the impact and possible injury to the feet.

This are the main points to take note when choosing socks. So do you know how to choose your socks now? We hope it is a YES!